Tag: interior designer

Maybe it’s the gray day outside, but today I feel super compelled to share some of my favorite interiors with dark walls! These moody rooms are anything but dreary, though. I actually love the life that a deep, dark paint color gives. 🙂 And a dark texture or wall covering just adds all the interest. Don’t you think?

All of these rooms were designed by SummerHouse designers. And they’re all just fabulous! Take a peek–

Our designers have touched on their favorite deep gray/brown/almost black paint colors in these blog posts:

I absolutely love each of these spaces. They’re moody, yet therapeutic, if you ask me! 😉 And a great dark wall automatically ups the style of the space. Be sure to check out our Projects page and our Galleries By Room to get some more inspo. You might even find a few more dark spaces I didn’t include here! The hunt is ON. 😉

Ok you guys… Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope your week is off to a great start despite the grossness outside in our neck of the weeks. Check back soon, as we will be posting updates about MAYMOD in the very near future!

We have a new(ish) face at SummerHouse | Oxford who you just HAVE to meet soon! Newlywed Emily Taylor (well, she’s actually getting married this weekend – congrats, girl!) is so much fun and is SUPER talented. We love having her on the team and are excited for you to get to meet her! Emily and I have actually known each other for years and have worked together on several events and parties. I truly love this girl. She’s incredible, has a fabulous eye for design, and is very hard working. Check out her designer bio here, then get to know her on a more casual level right here, right now… 🙂

Can you tell us a little about you? Where you’re from, where you went to school, about your family, all that good stuff…

I graduated from Ole Miss in 2011 with a degree in Hospitality Management and moved to Jackson to work in the event planning industry. In 2015, I moved to Oxford to pursue my own wedding planning business and, truthfully, a guy. Fortunately, I’m marrying that guy in just a few days!

Can you give us your professional/design history in a nutshell?

My dad was a contractor. As I grew up, we renovated our house several times. I remember laying the hardwood floors in my kitchen in junior high and the sense of pride that came with it, just as an example. Design has always been in the back of my mind.

Is there a particular piece on the showroom floor right now that you’re particularly loving? What do you love about it?

I love our Willow sofa. It is tailored, clean, and could work in so many different spaces. I am also loving our antique wood chest. They each speak to me so much!

If you could visit anywhere in the world for a week, where would it be and why?

France and Italy! We are going for our honeymoon and want to explore off the beaten path a bit so that we can fully experience the culture.

How do you describe your personal design style?

I love “updated traditional.” I like using statement pieces that are timeless and can be paired with your grandmother’s antique chest and a few more trendy accessories. I love for homes to feel cozy and to have many layers of texture.

What’s your favorite source of design/style inspiration?

I look at interior design coffee table books and magazines all day long!! There is a whole stack on my desk.

How do you take your caffeine?

I don’t…. I’m the one crazy person that doesn’t drink coffee or sodas!

What’s a little known fact about you that makes you different?

I’ve owned a wedding planning business for almost 4 years. I feel like this has taught me so much about spatial awareness and functionality. I want all pieces to serve a purpose while looking beautiful.

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I can personally speak to Emily’s incredible eye for design. You should have seen the baby shower she planned that we had at my house a few years ago. I just completely let her do everything and rearrange furniture as she needed. Then I left a lot of it where she moved it because I liked it so much better. And I’ve worked in this field since I graduated college eleven years ago! I know y’all will love Emily when you meet her if you haven’t yet. Stop by SHOX as soon as you can and shake her hand! 🙂

Hello, friends! I hope you had the best weekend! I wanted to pop in today and introduce you to one of the newest faces here at the SummerHouse so y’all can get to know this new designer just a little bit better! We’ve actually had a few additions to our team (at both locations) since our blog originally went down, so you’ll be meeting several new(ish) people over the coming weeks to make up for the gap!

Today, meet Hathaway. She’s our newest Interior Designer at our Ridgeland shop. She’s been a joy to get to know over the past few weeks, so I know you’ll enjoy getting to know her as well! Let’s get on with the Q&A:

Give us a little bit of background on you please ma’am!

I was born and raised in Columbus, MS. I went to Heritage Academy for High School and University of Mississippi for college. I met my husband Alex at there at Ole Miss, and I will never forget the moment I saw him at a Kappa Delta/ SAE swap!(circa 2003) I have lived in Louisiana and Texas before moving back to Mississippi. Alex and I have a 4 year old daughter named Wimberly! My parents are here in Madison, MS, so we are so excited to be close to family. I have a younger brother named Buck that is in New Orleans so we will be taking lots of road trips to see him now that we are closer.

Can you give us your design history in a nutshell?

I have ten years of interior design experience with commercial and residential design! I have worked on projects all over the United States and loved every minute and every location.

What’s your favorite local restaurant?

This is way too hard to answer, as I have missed real southern food. I always love a good margarita and Mexican food, though.

If you could visit anywhere in the world for a week, where would it be and why?

My next trip will be to the Amalfi Coast. It is a beautiful place.

How do you take your caffeine?

I start my day every morning with a large cup of Starbucks Verona coffee with sugar free vanilla creamer and a Splenda. And I sometimes have a mid day coffee, too! I have not always loved coffee… it was not until after college that I discovered this love! I also love a Diet Coke with lemon or lime

What’s a little known fact about you that makes you different?

I have red hair and I larger than life personality with love for design.

What is your favorite thing to do on a weekend off?

Spend time with my husband Alex and daughter Wimberly! We love to entertain with friends and family. I also love a good bottle of wine with a large assortment of cheeses, a fabulous candle and fresh flowers at all times.

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I totally feel you on all of that, Hathaway! Thank you so much for your time! Now all of y’all need to get up to SummerHouse | Ridgeland to meet this fun gal 😉

We are so excited about sharing a fun Q&A with our newest Ridgeland designer Erin Baker today! Erin has been so much fun to have around these past few weeks. Her bright personality fits right in around here! 🙂 Get to know her a little better >>>

Tell us more about you!

I am so excited to be working at SummerHouse. I love design and making people’s house into a home they love and enjoy coming home to.

I am from Brookhaven, MS, I attended Brookhaven Academy and Ole Miss for college. I have been in Jackson for almost 8 years now and just recently bought a house in Madison. I am an only child and I have two pups that I spoil more than I should.:) I love to travel and see new places. I am a runner and love to be outside. If I am not at work or outside doing something, you can find me in the gym, training. It is my stress reliever!

When did you first become interested in interior design? Tell us a little about that realization!

I became interested in design at a very early age. I can remember moving accessories and furniture in my parents house around. I designed my own bedroom, from paint colors, fabrics, bedding, pillows etc; when i was 12.

Tell us more about your personal design style!

My personal design style is polished casual. I like crisp, clean neutrals, with a surprise of color. Simplicity to me goes a long way. I like classic looks, not trends, and I like to mix textures and metals. My mood has a lot to do with it and what the room is used for. In my house, each room has a different feel/personality.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

My favorite way to spend my day off is relaxing with the boyfriend by the water or working on a project around my house.

How do you take your coffee?

I take my coffee with only two splenda….now! I used to be terrible. I would have a little coffee with my cream and sugar. More like syrup!

What’s the best trip you’ve been on recently? Tell us a little more about it!

The most recent trip I have been on was to Miami. I absolutely loved it. The weather was perfect. The food was amazing. But my favorite part about Miami would have to be the architecture and design. The homes are gorgeous. Everything is white and crisp with vibrant pops of color.

What aspect of SummerHouse is your favorite?

My favorite part about SummerHouse is that it feels like home. As soon as you walk in the door, you get that relaxing, ahhh feeling. Everything is beautiful and of the utmost quality. I love having other designers to bounce ideas off of. It is always helpful when you get stuck in a project or just need another point of view. All of the girls here are terrific designers and I am very privileged and excited to have the opportunity to work here.

We are so excited to have Interior Designer Jenni Hilbun join the SummerHouse team in our Oxford location! Jenni is so much fun, is beyond talented, and keeps us laughing! We are thankful to have her as a part of our family. We think you’ll enjoy getting to know her just as much as we have!

Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

I grew up across the south – North Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi. I spent lots of time with my grandparents in Columbia, MS learning everything from needlepoint (which eventually lead to sewing) to Canasta and of course, spoons! I finished college at MSU with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Theory. I fueled my creative side with all types of sewing projects and poured through books and magazines learning interior specialty sewing and loving it, often sewing into the wee hours of the morning. This love and ability has grown into a 20 year career in Interior Design.

I live on a farm in Pontotoc County with my husband, Benton, three children, three dogs, one crazy cat, two beautiful horses and five hens! Life is full and rewarding.

At what point did you realize you were interested in interior design?

Pretty early actually. One of my grandmothers always let us cousins decorate her house for Christmas and that was such a treat. She bought whatever “supplies” we wanted and we went to town with it! We even caught her piano on fire one year with a candle! Never even got in trouble, although I’m sure she was clenching her jaw! She also fostered my love of sewing and fabrics.

If you could travel anywhere in the world for a week, where would you go?

I am really a homebody. I love being at home!

What is the best movie you’ve seen recently? Why’d you like it?

I don’t really go to movies… They’re too loud! But I have been watching The Crown and Reign and loving both. Of course the costumes and drapery details are fantastic.

What’s your favorite local restaurant and why?

I have lots of favorite restaurants because I don’t like to cook. My very favorites are the ones that get a “to go” order correct consistently! And have a pickup lane.

What is your favorite design publication?

This oscillates between Veranda and Traditional Home. Such good publications. I have difficulty parting with back issues.

If Hollywood wanted to make a movie about you, what actress would you want playing you? Why?

Reese Witherspoon because she catches my attention. She is about my size (a.k.a. “short”) and she is already Southern.

Give us the number one reason you’re excited to be a part of the SummerHouse team!

Absolutely because it is a part of a team. Also, positively: Lisa Palmer!

What is your favorite thing about being an interior designer?

My favorite thing about being a designer is helping families and clients fall in love with their home and special keepsakes all over again.

Who is your favorite character on a TV show and why?

Loreli Gilmore. I SO relate!

What else do we need to know about you?

I am part time at SummerHouse and am primarily there on Monday, Thursday, and Friday, but will always make an appointment convenient for my client.

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Read more about Jenni and get her contact info here! Thank you so much, Jenni, for your time. Thrilled to have you aboard!

We are thrilled to share the news that we have a couple of new designers at SummerHouse | Oxford! Chad Holman and Jenni Hilbun have officially joined the SHOX squad as Interior Designers, and Maddie Ertle (who you may remember from here) has moved on up to an Interior Designer position as well! Laurie Conway is still killing it as an Oxford designer so we just have a really great team going on up there!

Today, we want to introduce you to Chad! We conducted our usual Q&A with him to get to know him a little better. We think you’re going to love him as much as we do!

Can you tell us a little bit about your background? Where you grew up, where you went to school, family, etc…?

I spent most of my formative years in Holly Springs MS where I attended Marshall Academy. After Highschool I attended Memphis College of Art. I am married and in the process of fostering 2 girls. The youngest is one and the oldest is two.

At what point did you realize you were interested in interior design? Elaborate just a tad!

I realized I wanted to be an interior designer at a young age. I remember being no older than ten and much to my parents’ dismay rearranging the living room when no one was around. It has always been my passion. I had no choice in the matter. This is the profession I was born to do.

If you could travel anywhere in the world for a week, where would you go? Why?

I have a severe wanderlust for India. I have traveled extensively, and this is one place that I have always wanted to go but never had the chance. I want to explore the cuisine, culture, landscapes, etc… I imagine its streets lined with spice markets, exotic flowers, and gorgeous textiles… Heaven!

What is the best movie you’ve seen recently? Why’d you like it?

The Shape of Water – It was visually stunning!

What’s your favorite local restaurant and why?

It has to be City Grocery. I love it for the shrimp and grits. Why else?

What is your favorite design publication?

I love Architectural Digest and Elle Décor. You will always find these on my coffee table at home. I also love Dwell and Paper magazine. I am always scouring the web for great design blogs. Two of my favorites are Apartment34.com and Yellowtrace.com.au.

Give us the number one reason you’re excited to be a part of the SummerHouse team!

Its reputation! I love being a part of such a talented and established team of designers with a design firm with as many accolades as SummerHouse.

What is your favorite thing about being an interior designer?

I love being able to increase the quality of peoples lives. The spaces we live in are a direct reflection of us. Knowing that I create spaces that give my clients a sense of pride or a beautiful calming place to retreat to after a long day makes me happy. It makes all the long hours and hard work completely worth it.

Who is your favorite character on a TV show OR who is your favorite TV personality and why?

What else do we need to know about you?

I feel that the relationship between designer and client is a close one. We are invited into their homes and is some cases become part of the extended “family”. Because of these relationships I love to put something in every room I design that makes the client laugh or at least brings a smile to their face when they see it. This can be something small and inconspicuous. Most of the time its an inside joke between the client and myself. Many people get caught up in the serious aspects of design. I always try to take the time to step back and remember to have fun. I believe it shows in the finished design.

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Thank you so much for your time, Chad! It’s a pleasure having you on board. 🙂

Designer Katherine Shelton recently had her work featured in Social South magazine! The whole issue is beautiful, but we particularly love this outdoor space! We will soon add this space to our project site, so keep an eye out for that! Until then, have a look at these pretty pages!

You can read the story here, or stop by the Ridgeland showroom and pick up a hard copy for yourself!

When we asked our design staff about their favorite bedroom wall colors, their picks were split between light & airy and dark & cozy! We love every single pick, so we’re bringing you the dark picks today and will share the lighter picks with you next week, so stay tuned!

SummerHouse Owner and Lead Designer Lisa Palmer has Benjamin Moore Onyx in her own bedroom and adores the coziness that the color provides.

SummerHouse | Oxford designer Rebecca Cornelius’s pics are Sherwin Williams Slate Tile and Benjamin Moore Gentleman’s Gray. “I’ve just been so obsessed with the dark slate colors for the past few years and don’t see myself getting sick of them any time soon.”

SummerHouse | Ridgeland design assistant Krystle Short loves colors in the deep green family. “I am infatuated with deep, sultry greens right now! Narrangansett Green and Newburg Green, both by Ben Moore, are fabulous examples of how one can introduce rich, soothing color without overwhelming a space.”

There’s a new face in the Oxford shop that you need to get to know! May we introduce to you Laurie Conway! Laurie is a fabulously talented designer who we are thrilled to have as part of our Oxford team and SummerHouse family! Get to know her just a little bit better with a quick Q&A…

1. Tell us about yourself! Where you’re from, about your family, where you went to school…

I grew up in Tupelo and studied Interior Design at Mississippi State. After graduation I moved to Jackson where I have worked in Design for over 20 years. I have two amazing children, Ben and Julia, who are my heart and soul. I have family in Oxford and northeast Mississippi as well as in Jackson. I’m so excited to be back in the Oxford area!

2. Give us a quick overview of your design background!

I started out with an architectural firm and quickly realized I loved residential design even more. I have worked in design for over 25 years, both on my own and for other designers in Jackson.

3. What got you interested in working in the Interior Design field?

I have always loved to design and create things. When I was young, I loved making furniture for my Barbies. My Mom says as a child I could be content for hours with typing paper, a ruler and a pencil. I have never wanted do anything else, so it is definitely my passion.

4. What is your favorite source of design inspiration and why?

I’m not a huge fan of digital media, but I love to flip through a magazine over and over again. I have stacks of them on the floor by my bed. I love Traditional Home, Veranda, Milieu and Elle Decor just to name a few!

5. How would you describe your personal taste in design?

I love clean lines mixed with antiques and modern pieces, and layering with accessories and rugs for texture.

6. What is the most inspiring place you’ve visited lately?

New Orleans is always an inspiration to me, so I go there as often as possible. Walking around in the Garden District and sitting in Audubon Park are my happy places.

7. What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

I love working in my yard and potting flowers. I love to paint as well as faux finish. Creating is so relaxing to me.

8. What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen and why?

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my favorite movies. I love how it depicts Southern women’s lives and strength.

9. How do you take your caffeine?

Black!

10. What is your favorite part of being in the SummerHouse family so far?!

I am so excited to be a part of this great team. The designers are so incredibly talented and welcoming and Lisa is of course fabulous!!

The historic home being used this year is absolutely exquisite! Lisa has been working hard to design her room, the playroom, with the style and history of the home in mind, while also adding that beautiful SummerHouse style that we all know and love! 🙂

The house will be open April 20 until May 14 on Thursdays through Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and on Sundays from 1 to 4 pm. It will be closedMondays through Wednesdays. Purchase your tickets here and go ahead and plan a weekend trip to Atlanta to check out this beautiful home!

Stay tuned as we give peeks of Lisa’s design process over the coming weeks! We can’t wait to show you what she’s been working on!

Have you picked up the latest issue of Social South Magazine? The most beautiful cabin designed by SummerHouse Interior Designer Lindsey Townsend was featured in all of its Christmas glory and it could not be more stunning!! We love the simplicity and charm. Lindsey worked with the homeowners in the beginning stages of construction, and completed the project not only with furniture, soft goods, and accessories, but with Christmas decorations so their home would be holiday party ready!

Click here to see the digital version or grab a hard copy the next time you’re in the store!

Here are a few extra photos of this pretty cabin that you won’t see in the magazine! All captured by photographer James Patterson

We hope all of you had a great weekend! Thanks for dropping by today! XO!

Designer Katherine Shelton is currently working on pulling together a children’s den and we are so excited to see how this project turns out! The presentation was fun, playful, and sophisticated all at the same time! We love her selections and can’t wait to see the end product!

Take a look at this happy gender-neutral combination of fabrics and colors. Love!

Don’t you just love those colors?! The parents will enjoy that room just as much as the kiddos!

If you’d like help pulling a room in your home together, give us a call! 601-853-4445 We’d LOVE to help!

Our current Designer of the Week is Lindsey Townsend! This talented, beautiful, hard-working chick keeps us constantly inspired with her amazing projects! We love being able to work alongside Lindsey! Get to know her a little better as a designer in this Q&A!

1 – Tell us about a few of your favorite details in a project you’re currently working on!

I am very excited to be working on a new construction project with a renowned architect. The home is just in its beginning phase and will take about 18 months from start to finish to complete. The architecture and landscape plan is absolutely beautiful. I can’t wait to add my touches to the interior design. The style of the home is French Caribbean. It will be flooded with natural light, beautiful antique beams, oak floors, Limestone fireplaces and oyster Firerock concrete pavers throughout the exterior. I plan to devote much detail and attention to everything in the interior from the cabinetry, ceilings, doors styles, hardware, stone selections, lighting, and color palette throughout.

2 – Is there a publication, book, blog, website, magazine that has just really inspired you lately? Tell us about it!

I have really been inspired lately by Luxe Interiors + Design Magazine. Luxe has a strong focus on the architecture of a home and how it relates to the interior. Which I feel is so important. The interior design of a home should flow seamlessly with the architecture and surroundings of the space. I am in the middle of a few projects I have been working on from the ground up. Luxe has been very helpful with inspiration for new flooring designs and door and cabinetry details, along with wood stains and ceiling details.

3 – What’s your favorite room in a home to design? Why?

My favorite space to design in a home would be the Living Room. It is where most of your time is spent with family and entertaining friends. It usually sets the tone for the design of the rest of the home. It is most often the largest space, so I can be creative with furniture layouts, mixing of pieces, layering of textures and color palettes.

4 – Tell us about your favorite project to date and what you love about that particular project!

I am very proud of a new construction home I completed earlier this year. I spent over 2 years on the project. The architect and builder on the project were great. We all worked very well together. It is absolutely imperative to have a good team behind you, that works well together when completing a project of this scope. The home is on the water at Lost Rabbit. The architecture itself was very inspiring. To list just a few features… It is flooded with natural light, beautiful stone and tile selections, unique lighting, an art collection that is to die for, and a 22′ glass Nano Wall that completely opens up to the main level balcony. The clients were absolutely amazing and really committed to my design plan for the entire house. It turned out beautifully and was recently photographed. Should be up on our website very soon!

We come to you a little bit sad today because our sweet and talented designer Mary Courtney made the decision a couple of weeks ago to leave SummerHouse and work from home so she can spend more time with her beautiful babies! Her last day was Friday 🙁 We are so happy for her and know this is a great move for her family, but we are SO sad to be losing her!

Because of this transition, we now have a position open! We are looking for a new Interior Designer to join our team!

Here’s some info about the position:

We are currently seeking qualified interior designers who wish to work in a creative and fast paced environment. Duties include, but are not limited to, showroom sales and full scale interior design projects. Full scale interior design projects include the selection of exterior finishes, interior finishes, furniture and fabric selections, as well as coordinating installations. SummerHouse specializes in beautiful and fashion forward interiors while giving the highest level of client service. Quality benefits and a competitive compensation structure are included. Candidates must possess strong verbal and written communication skills, superb organizational skills, a positive work ethic, strong sales ability and a solid design foundation. A degree in interior design and sales experience in this field is preferred.

And here’s a little bit about your work environment! 🙂

If this position sounds like something you’d enjoy, then shoot us your resume! We look forward to hearing from you!

ALSO- if you are in the Oxford, MS area and looking for a design position, click here. We’re hiring for our new location up there! 🙂 Yay!

Every few weeks, we pick a different designer to feature as our designer of the week! It’s so much fun for us to really focus in on one designer at a time and see what they’ve been working on, what’s caught their eye, and where they turn for inspiration!

Our newest designer of the week is Katy Sanders! This girl has been working extra hard lately and has pulled together some beautiful rooms! Find out about what’s most inspired her lately, her favorite recent project, and much more! Keep reading!

Tell us about a few of your favorite details in a project you’re currently working on!

My latest project involved a complete living room design for a home in the Bridgewater subdivision. Having downsized to one main living area, my clients needed a comfortable, casual, user-friendly space. I chose slipcovered pieces, warm wood tones, and natural fibers.

Here’s a look at the final selections. We cannot wait for the install this fall!

What is your favorite design trend right now?

I am excited to finally see a shift from cooler tones back to natural, earthy palettes. Most recently, I have been drawn to designs that incorporate warm neutrals, jewel tone accents, matte finishes and mixed materials. My husband and I are building a home this fall, and I am looking forward to adding a few of these details myself!

Is there a publication, book, blog, website, or magazine that has just really inspired you lately? Tell us about it!

The fall issue of Milieu Magazine is absolutely stunning and so inspiring. Designer Betsy Brown’s home in Birmingham is featured. It is breathtaking, and her attention to detail is incredible. Some of the most beautiful designs can be found here in the south!

What’s your favorite room in a home to design? Why?

The master bedroom is one of my favorite spaces to design. While many clients overlook this area, I encourage people to make this a priority. I have heard countless times, “No one goes in there but us.” BUT, it is so important. It’s a personal space where you wind down and rejuvenate, and that is definitely worthy of some design attention! I love helping clients transform their bedrooms into relaxing, beautiful retreats.

We have some beautiful eye candy for y’all to enjoy today in the form of a guest bedroom designed by Interior Designer Lindsey Townsend! We love her take on this traditional bedroom and would love to be a guest in this pretty setting any day! 😉

Such a beautiful job, Lindsey! That blue and gray is mesmerizing!

We hope you are having a great week! The weekend is just around the corner!! 😉

We’re beginning a new round of our always popular Designer of the Week series! Going first is Interior Designer Elish Phares Moon! We love having this girl as a part of our team and love hearing more about her favorite project to date, the item she longs to have in her house, and much more! Keep reading! 🙂

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What is your favorite design trend right now and why?

My favorite design trend right now is actually designers who are using their expertise to explore designs a little off the beaten path. In a new generation of clients who are Pinterest, HGTV, and internet educated it’s sometimes difficult for interior designers to “wow” their clients. I love seeing designs that aren’t replicas of the most commonly pinned bathroom on Pinterest. I’m not pointing fingers- I’m definitely guilty of sometimes seeking inspiration online before wracking my own brain. But I’ve been really inspired lately not by perfectly replicated designs, but by the designers and clients who take a little liberty with trying out new things!

We know designers always have a little pile of samples of things that they hope to be able to use in their own homes one day… Tell us about one thing that’s in your current pile and why you love it or how you plan to use it!

I am very guilty of having a “happy” pile for my future home. Right now my favorite thing is the most unessential. I am completely in love with a jeweled Samuel & Sons trim. I stare at it longingly often and dream of ways to make it work. Of course, having a seasoned design eye, I chose something very costly. I’m just like my clients though- I need to be practical. I need a home that is inviting and that doesn’t have a warning sign at the door- “no one under the age of 5, though sippy cups are welcome”. I need practical! But that doesn’t mean I haven’t ruled out a gorgeous trim on future drapery. Your home has to make YOU happy first and foremost. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

What’s your favorite room in a home to design? Why?

My favorite room to design is a living room. It’s the heartbeat of the house (second only to the kitchen) where many memories are made. I like the challenge of creating a beautiful but functional space. That one room really needs to be the full package. It has to be visually appealing, functional, the hub for the house. I think a successful living room design is incredibly rewarding.

Tell us about your favorite project to date and what you love about that particular project!

My favorite project to date has been a roughly 14 month project in Oxford, MS. We just had our first install for the project last week and I’ve never had a more rewarding experience. It wasn’t the scale of the project (though large), the budget, or the location. It was an incredibly close relationship with a client equally dedicated to not sacrificing details in her home. The projects that I consistently walk away from feeling accomplished and gratified, are the ones that reflect an open and communicative relationship with my client. It shows in every detail: the cohesiveness of rooms, materials, etc.. We worked hard to be on the same page throughout and I think it shows. I feel very grateful for the opportunity to have learned so much and gained such experience… and to have a project I can walk away from proud I have my name on it.

Have you seen the latest issue of Social South Magazine?! Designer Mary Courtney Johns designed a beautiful condo in Oxford that was featured in the pages of this issue! This Refined Retreat is where this client’s family spends many weekends enjoying football season, off weekends in the fastest growing city in Mississippi, and precious time with family.

Check out the full issue here, and enjoy a few extra photos of Mary Courtney’s design here!

We just love how this cozy little retreat turned out! Great job, MC!

If you’ve got a home or condo that needs the touch of a SummerHouse designer, don’t hesitate to give us a call! 601-853-4445.

And for more living room inspo, be sure to check out this gallery, in which one of these photos is featured! This is a great collection of spaces and we’re honored to be a part!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! We hope you’re having a great week so far!

We are so thrilled to announce that Lisa will be one of the designers at the upcoming Rathbuns’ Watch List event at ADAC in Atlanta on June 4!

The Rathbuns’ Watch List event is the brainchild of celebrated Atlanta chef, Kevin Rathbun, and his brother Chef Kent Rathbun from Dallas to create a platform for emerging stars in the culinary industry.

Chefs love to say that everyone eats and drinks first with their eyes to explain the importance of design and aesthetic in the culinary world. This event marks the synergy between the culinary and design industries by tying emerging culinary talent with design talent to create unique tasting environments that will both highlight and compliment the works of the talent pairings.

This evening event held during the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival showcases the ever-important next generation of Southern talents, draws a sell-out crowd of approximately 300 people, including national and regional media, and provides great media and consumer exposure for participating talent!

Needless to say, it is a huge honor that Lisa has been selected to participate in this event! And we are pumped about the chef she’s been paired with: John Lasater, executive chef of Nashville’s Hattie B’s restaurant. Hot chicken, anyone?!

We are excited about the beautiful selections she’s making for her space. Be on the lookout for more on that very soon!

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MEET OUR EDITOR

Hi! My name is Laurel Donahoo and I'm the editor for Always Summer! I have been on the SummerHouse team since 2007 and have loved every minute of it! My southern roots, love of design, and appreciation for the talent of my incredible coworkers makes managing this blog one of my most favorite things to do! When I'm not blogging, I like spending time at home with my husband, kids, and pups or cooking, taking weekend trips, or planning my next design project for my own home!

Feel free to E-mail me with any blog questions, comments, ideas, or collaboration pitches! Thank you so much for stopping by today!

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